Foldable screen



H. C. FORD -FoLDABLE SCREEN March 2E, 1930.

Filed Jan. 24, 1929 '3 Sheets-Shea?I l JNVENTOR BY Hannibal Cil/"0rd yif 6 ATTORNEYS March 25, 1930. H. C.FORD

FOLDABLE SCREEN Filed Jan. 24, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTR BY HannibalC. Fora ATTORNEYS March 25, 1930. Q FORD v 1,751,807 l FOLDABLE SCREENFiled dan, 24, 1929' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Hannibal C. Ford l ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 25, 1930 EANNIBAL C. FORD, OF JAMAICA, NEW YORKFOLDABLE scnEnN Application filed J'anuaryy24, 1929. Serial No. 334,669.

This invention relates to foldable screens and-more particularly toscreens adapted to be used for replaces as a protection against flyingsparks. p

It is an object of this invention to provide a foldable screen for thispurpose which shall completely Vcover an opening, such as a fireplace,before which it may be placedy with the free edges of its top and sidemembers in contact with the wall surrounding the opening, and its frontmembers suitably spaced from the plane of the wallto provide space forobjects extending beyondthis plane, such as andirons in a. fireplace.

It is a further object to provide a foldable screen having its componentmembers permanently connected to each other and so formed that' thescreen may be quickly and conveniently converted from its open un*folded condition to a flat' folded one, or vice versa, byv a simpleoperation not requiring the manipulation of any catches or otherdetachable fastening devices between any of the members.

These objects as well as others which will more clearly hereinafterappear are attained by providing aplurality ofpairs of screensectionspermanently hinged together to form an extensible structure andeach'pair consisting of atop screen-section and a verticalscreen-section. The top screen-sections of the two pairs constitutingthe side portions of c the screen are `triangular `in -form and each ofthem in hinged at one edge to the vertical screen-section' of the sameportion and at another edge to the top screen-section of an adjacentportion. These screen-sections are so proportioned that when the screenvis in eX- tended or open condition each top screen-sec-` tion forms adihedral angle with its corresponding vertical screensection and when infolded condition lies in thesame plane as the vertical screen-section.The arrangement is also such that the free edges of the top screensection and the adjacent free edges of the vertical screen-section ofthe side portionslie in the same plane so that the screen in opencondition fits against the wall surrounding a fire place or otheropening before which it may be placed. The particular nature of theinvention will appear most `clearly from a description of certainpreferred embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings in which Y 1Fig. 1is a` perspective view of the screen 55 in place showing itsgeneral shape;4 I

Fig. 2 `is a front elevation as itwould appear looking towards thefireplace;

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the slope of the top of the screen; p

l Fig. 4 shows the first stage in vfolding the screen; y ,Y

Fig. 5 shows the screen from the opposite side from Fig. 4l wherein thewings of the screen are folded flat into the center; Fig. 6 shows thelast stage of folding wherein the screen as'shown in Fig. 5 has beenfolded back at the centerline; l Fig. 7 is an valternative form of theinvention using one center pair' of screen-sections 70 insteadof two,and whichV shows the adap tation .of the screen to an arched fireplace.

'Fig 8 shows the alternative form in its flat folded position; Y

Figs. 9, 10.` and 11 show the hinge connections at the indicated pointsin Fig.- 2; and Fig. 12. shows a layout pattern of' the screen toindicatethe angular relationsl Referring to Fig. 2, the forward verticalscreen-sections 1 and 2 are rectangular in 80 shape and are adapted tobe positioneda suitable distance in front ofthe fireplace and are hingedtogetherby the hinges 3.y Each of these forward or centerscreen-sections 1 and 2 is provided with a quadrilateral sidev screen-85 section or wing 4.1and'5 respectively, hinged by the hinges 6to beobliquelyfdisposed to"v both the center screen-sections andthe wallsurroundingthe fireplace opening. VAt the top'Y of each of the centerscreen-sections 1 and 90 y quickly.

2 is hinged a quadrilateral top screen-section 7 and 8 respectively, bythe hinges 9, and these top screen-sections 7 and 8 are hinged togetherby the hinges 3, and are also both obliquely disposed to both theVcenter screensections 1 and 2 and the wall surrounding the fireplace.`The remaining two screen-sectionsand 11 are triangular screen-sectionsconnecting the sides of the top screen-sections 7 and 8 to the tops ofthe side screensections 4 and 5 respectively, as shown in the drawings.The arrangement of all these screen-sections is such that theiradjoining edges are hinged or bound in a manner which permits the inneror free edges of the wings 4 and 5, the inner or free edges of the topscreen-sections 7 and 8, and the inner or free edges of the triangularscreen-sections 10 and 11 to all lie in the samevertical plane, which inpractice will contain the outlining portion of the wall that surroundsthe fireplace. It is, therefore,y evident that the folding screen liesin contact against the vertical fireplace wall while the bottom edges ofthe screen sections of the forward and side wings rest on the hearth,whereby the fireplace is completely enclosed.

The hinges, or other suitable joint-forming means, are designed tosupport the screen in the desired position. The hinges 3 shown in Fig. 9are placed on the proper sides of andjoin the screen-sections 10, 7, 8and 11 to each other and also screen-sections 1 and 2. These two groupsof screen-.sections when in ,Hw nnen position form two flat extendedsurfaces, and

the hinges prevent rthe folding of these surfaces, particularly 1 and 2,in the wrong direction, thus facilitating in folding the screen Hinges6, connecting screen-sec` tions 1 and 4, and 2 and 5, are designedto beat the limit of their opening when the side screen-sections are in theiropen position. rlhe remaining hinges 9 connect the top screen-sectionsto their corresponding vertical screen-sections and are formed toholdthe triangular screen-sections 10 and 11 in their correct position andtorprevent any tendency of these screen-sections and the other topscreen-sections to sag. In general, the hinges give the screen a certainrigidity when it is opened so that it is completely self-supporting. Theweight of the top screen-sections assists 'in holding the screen open.

At such times as it is Vdesired to remove the fire-,place screen, it maybe folded compactly as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Ac

" cordingly the screen may be either set up for folded back.

use or taken down and folded for storage the utmost ease. In order to,foldthe screen after drawing it away from the fireplace the kfirstmovemay be as shownin Fig. 4. Here the side' wings are-in the processoff beingl For convenience handles may be placed on'the sides as shown,and in lifting and withl these handles the weight of the topscreen-sections is relieved which allows the sides to move back freely.The sides are moved on in to the center and at this point the wholescreen becomes flat as shown in Fig. 5, which is a view from theopposite side of Fig. 4. `Without turning it to the position shown in Fig. 5, which is used only for better illustration, the screen is nextfolded back on the center line. This is done merely to decrease the sizeof the folded screen, and is not essential to the fiat folding of thescreen as is apparent in Figs. 7 and 8 which show an alternative formwhose screen-section 13 is not divided. The screen now folded (shownloosely folded in Fig- 6) is in a very suitable 'form for convenientstorage or handling.

The alternative form chosen for Figs. 7 and 8 is particularly adaptedfor arched fireplaces, and maybe somewhat smaller than the first formshown in the preceding figures. To the sides of the single'centerscreen-section 13 are hinged narrower quadrilateral screen-sections 14and 15 by the hinges 6. These screen-sections stand obliquely to thewall ofthe fireplace and the front screen-section 13. The quadrilateraltop screen-section 16 is hinged by the hinges 9 to the top of thecenterscreen-section 18, and is held' obliquely to close the gap betweenthe wall and the front screen-section 13. It is supported not only bythe hinges 9 but also by the ad joining triangular screen-sections 17and 18 as shown. The hinges 6 and 9 limit the downward motion of thesetop screen-sections and serve to hold the` open screen in arigidposition.' The inner or free edges all lie in a vertical plane so as tolit closely to the lires place wall. In folding this screen` it issuincient merely to grasp the handles and turn the sides back, andtheresult is as shown in Fig. 8. It will be noted that in order for thescreen to fold flat as in Figj8, the anglesA and D must equal eachother, or more generally that the sum of angles Aand B mustv equal `thesum of angles CV and D.

In regard to the design of the screen-sections, thefundamental'requirement in order to have them fold Vflat is that the sumof angles A'and B equals the sum of angles D and C, shown in Figs. 12, 4and 7. Fig. 12 shows a pattern of such a screen as it would lookunfolded and attened out. The above pairs of angles being equal, theangles a must'be equal. In the embodimentshown in" Figs. 1 to 6 the topedge of the screen forms a straight line againstV the wall of thefireplace. This partici ular construction requires that thefpattern becut somewhat as shown in Fig. 12. m'represents` the vertical distancewhich the -top edgeV of the-screen-sections 7 and 8l drops as they swingdown to form the top ofthe screen in unfolding. Inl the form sho-wn inFigs. 7 and 8 the angle T shownin Fig. 12 Iis made a rightV angle andthe shape of :the 'triangu-V llO lar screen-section 17 is variedaccordingly. Also, the dimensions of the various screensections such asR, S, and V, may be made any desired value, and other numbers ofscreen-sections might'be used as the necessity arises. Y

Vhile the particular embodiment shown relates to lire screens it is notintended to? limit the use of the invention to fire screens alone, andchanges in detail may also be made without departing from the principlesof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a oldable screen, a. series of vertically disposed screen-sectionshaving parallel edges, a second series of screen-sections comprisingtriangular end screen-sections, the screen-sections of the latter seriesbeing flexibly connected to each other and to the screensections of thefirst series to form a top, means to limit the relative movement of thescreensections to such an extent that the screen-sections o the secondseries have their` free edges in the plane of the free side edges of theiirst series when the screen is in operative position. Y

2. A foldable screen having pairs of screensections, each paircomprising a Vertical screen-section and a sloping'top screen-section,connections between the screen-sections capable of yielding withinpredetermined limits, continuing edges of each pair forming an angleequal to a corresponding angle of an adjacent pair both when folded andextended, the elements forming a rigid structure when extended, andfoldable into the area occupied by one pair of screen-sections.

3. A foldable screen comprising a plurality of connected verticalscreen-sections, each of which has a sloping top screen-section oinedthereto, the number of vertical screen-sections being equal to thenumber of top screen-sections, each vertical screen-section and itsconnected top screen-section comprisinga pair, the continuing edges ofwhich Jform an angle equal to the corresponding angle formed by the adjacenty continuing edges of the -adjoinj ing pair. Y

4. A foldable screen Y.having a vertical portion and an inclined portioneach made up of an equal number of screen-sections with eachscreen-section of `the inclined portion exibly connected to ascreen-section of the Vertical portion withv their respective meetingedges coterminous and with the screensections of each portionlikewiseflexibly connected to the adjacent screen-section orscreen-sections of said portion.

5. In a oldable screen, a plurality of pairs of screen-sections hingedtogether to form an extensible structure, each pair consisting of a topscreen-section and a Vertical screensection, two of the topscreen-sections being triangular in form and veach of them being hingedat one edge'to a vertical screen-section and at another edge to anadjacent top screen-section. j

6. Ina foldable screen, a plurality of pairs of screen-sections hingedtogetherto form an extensible structure, each pair consisting of a topscreen-sectionv and a vertical screen-section, two ofthe'toppscreen-sections being'triangular in vform` and each of thembeing hinged at one edge to the corresponding vertical screen-sectionand at another -edge to .an adjacent top screen-section, thescreen-sections being so formed that when in extended position each topscreen-section forms a dihedral angle with its corresponding verticalscreen-section and when in folded position lies in the same planetherewith.

7. In a foldable screen, a plurality of pairs of screen-sections hingedtogether to form an extensible structure, each pair consisting of a topscreen-section and a vertical screensection, and each top screen-sectionbeing permanently hinged at one edge to a vertical screen-section and atanother edge to` an adjacent top screen-section. Y

8. In a foldable screen, a pluralityl of pairs of top and verticalscreen-sections, each screen-section of each pair being permanentlyhinged at two edges to adjacent screen-sections, and means for limitingthe relative movement of the screen-sections to a predetermined positionwherein the free edges of the top screen-sections and the adjacent freeedges of the side vertical screen-sections lie inthe same plane when thescreen is in operative position. Y

9. A foldable screen comprising two end portions each composed of a topscreen-section of triangular form and a vertical screenf section ofquadrilateral form, and one or more intermediate portions each composedof atop screen-section of quadrilateral form v sections and consistingof two groups com-y posed of the same number of screen-sections, one ofsaid groups being vertical and the other inclined when in operativeposition, means for iiexibly holding each screen-section of the inclinedgroup contiguous toa corresponding screen-section of the vertical 1group and ,the'meeting edges ofV the screen.- sections beingVcoterminous throughout.

. 12. In a fol'dable screen, a'series of screensections havingparalleledges, a second series of screen-sections comprising end screen-sectionsof triangular shape and means permanently connecting the sereen-seotonsof each series to each other and to the screenfsections ofthe otherseries both When the screen is folded Vflat and when' unfolded into aposition in which the screen-sections `of the first series are Verticaland those of theseoond series are inclined With respect thereto, themeeting edges of the screen-sections being coter-minous throughout. Intestimony whereof I ax my signature,

l HANNIBAL C. FORD,

